Knitting machine



Aug. 20, 1929. G. w. LINDLEY KNITTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 8, 1926 1 N VEN TOR: George WLZW wm E YS mm mm 3w? NE 5 Ev Ev N KMNMN WITNESSES [A fl flm W' a. 71M

0, 1929. G. w. UNDLEY 1,725,150

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: Ge orge WLin dZey,

A TTORNEYS.

% iO-l George Wlindley,

- TORNEYS.

1929- G. w. LINDLEY 1,725,150

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Er 78 76 79 FIG I.

WITNESSES L INVENTORQ- Patented Aug. 20, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. LINDLEY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

KNITTING Application filed February .whereby the elastic inlay yarn is fed directly to the knitting needles with avoidance of twisting and its tension may be varied either under manual or automatic control, and the size of fabric loops formed with the knitting yarn concurrently graduated for the purpose of fashioning or shaping" the garments particularly with regard to formation of circumferential protuberances, for example, knee pockets in hosiery.

The several mechanical improvements collectively contributing to the attainment of the deslderata above outlined, together with special advantages accruing to them individually, will appear from the detailed description of the typical embodiment of my invention shown on the drawings herewith.

Fig. I is a plan view of the complete machine.

- Fig. II is an elevation of the front of the structure.

Fig. III is a view, in side elevation, of the feed means for the elastic yarn on a larger scale than shown in the preceding illustrations.

Fig. IV is a detail section taken as indicated by the arrows IVIV in Fig. III.

Fig. V is a view taken as indicated by the arrows VV in Fig. II.

Fig. VI is a section taken along the line VIVI in Fig. I

Fig. VII is a detail section view, taken as designated by the arrows VII-VII in Fig. II.

Fig. VIII, is a diagrammatic illustration showing a linear development of the cam ring and the means by which the stitch drawing cam is controlled for fashioning purposes in accordance with my invention.

Fig. IX is an inverted fragmentary plan plate being held against MACHINE.

8,1926. Serial No. 86,710.

view showing certain elements embodied in the means depicted in the preceding illustration; and,

Fig. X is a detail view of the measuring chain showing the cam lugs for automatically controlling the feedin means for the elastic yarn and governing t e belt shipper of the machine.

The cylinder 15 of the machine is rotatable in the bed plate 16; and the cams for actuating the cylinder needles N are supported in ternally of a fixed ring 17 that surrounds said cylinder. The associated ribbing dial 18, together with its horizontal needles N and the cam plate 19 for actuating them, is suspended axially of the cylinder 15 from a bridging bar 20 that spans the knitting head, said cam rotation by a bracket 21 withset screws 22 engaging the bridging bar 20 from opposite sides. The usual knitting yarn indicated Y is directed to the needles N enroute from a source of supply (not shown) through a guide 23 fast on the cam plate 19; while the elastic inlay arn designated Y is fed through the e e o a guide 24 adjustable on a post 25 secure to the cam ring 17. A bevel gear 26 formed on a depending annular flange of the needle cylinder 15 is driven by an intermeshing pinion 27 on the inner end of the drive shaft 28 which is equipped with the usual tight and loose pullegs 29, 30, respectively, see Figs. I and II. T e belt shipper 31 is pivoted by a fixed-stud 32 on the machine frame 33, and has an arm 34 that projects inwardly for engagement beneath the depending extremity 35 of the right angled trip lever 35 whereby said shipper is normally held, in the position shown in Fig. II, in opposition to a compression spring 36. The trip lever 35 is swingable at right angles to the belt shipper 31 about a fixed center 37, and is normally held in the position shown under upward ull exerted by a helical sprin 38, see Fig. If

At the en opposite that occupied by the pulleys 29, 30, the machine has a laterally proecting bracket 39 upon which is mounted a sprocket wheel 40 for a measuring chain 41 t at carries cam lugs 42, 43 at opposite sides thereof, see Fig. X, for a purpose to be later explained. The chain 41 also carries one or more center lugs 44, "which, through interposed parts about to be described, are instrumental inautomaticallg stopping the machine. An-angle lever 4 piv'otally secured at 46 to a bracket 47 rising from the bed plate 16 has one end.t hereof lying in the'path of the central cam lugs 44 of the chaisn 41, and1 its 0 site end en a 'n a pin 4 upstan ing ffddl a second lin 49 which is fuler-umed to swin horizontall abouta fixed stud 50 on said led plate, he opposite extremity of the lever 49 is subject to' a spring 49 and normally engages a circumferential grooye 51 in a vertical slide rod 52, having bearing' nthe bed plate 16 and in an upstanding bracket '53 on the latter, A spring 54 (Fig. II) tends 'to' urge the slide'rod '52 downwardly when released by inward movement of the lever 51-, thereby to depress the horizontal arm 35 of the right angled trip lever 35 and swing the latter to release the belt sh'ipfper 31.

' Intermittent movement 0' the measuring chain 41 is effected by pawling mechanism including an arm 55 which is mounted for free oscillation on the sprocket wheel'axis 56 and carries a pawl 57 adapted to pick the teeth of a ratchet wheel 58, secured to the sprocket 40 at one side. The pawl arm 55 is vibrated by virtue of a link connection 59 with a rocker arm 60, fixed to a shaft 61 having bearing in the projecting bracket 39. At its inner end the shaft 61 has secured to it a second arm 62 Y with a roller 63 thereon, which lies in the path of a cam 64 on the take-up frame 65, rotating with the needle cylinder 15.

The means which I provide for maintaining variable tension on the elastic yarn Y during its feeding includes a pair of cooperative rotating members, one havin the form of a disk 66, see Figs. 1 Iv, an i theother the form of a friction roller 67 running-in contact with said disk, theyarn Y being passed between the two on its way to the guide 24, previously mentioned, The drive disk 66 is located eccentrically of the knitting head, its shaft being journalled in a bracket 68 that is bolted or otherwise positionally fixed adjacent the periphery of the bed plate 16. Continuous rotative movement is imparted to the drive disk 66, from the bevel gear 26 on the needle cylinder 15, through a. system of coordinated evel gears'indi'cated at 69, 69, in Fig. I. The friction roller 67 is journalled in a follower 7 0 which is shiftable radially of the drive disk 66 by a screw 71 rotatable in the upright portions72 of a bearer extension 68 of the bracket 68 above referred to, a guide rod 73 also su ported by said bearer serving tohold the fbllower to such course while reventing rotation thereof with the screw 1. From Fig. IV it will be noted that the follower 7 0 comprises a block 74 which is apertured for traverse on the screw 712 5 Well as along the guide rod 73, and a yoke piece 75 that is vertically slidable on the block 74 to enable lifting of the roller 67 from the disk 66 when threading,

the elastic yarn Y. The friction roller 67 is held in pressure contact with the drive disk 66 by a spring 76 which encircles an upward rod extension 77 of the block 74, and it is in compression between a head 78 at the upper end of said rod and the top cross bar 7 5 of the yoke. -As an aid in raising the friction roller .67 and holding it elevated during threading, I provide an eccentric cam 79 which is rotatable on the yoke 75 by means of an integral finger knob 80,-. and has its periphery engaging-the top of the block 74 .Gui cs 81, 82 secured-to opposite sides of the {pke 75 cooperate in'holding the elastic yarn to a central course beneath the roller 67, and a circumferential groove 67 a in the latter prevents displacement of said yarn as the follower 70-is moved radially of the drive disk 66. A knurled finger knob 83 on one end of the screw 71 facilitates initial setting of the follower 70 in any desired position relative to the drive disk 66; and a graduated scale 84 (Fig. I) is provided for coordination with a pointer 85 on said follower to assist in such setting.-

The ofiice of controlling actuation of the screw 71 is relegated to mechanism that comprises right' and left hand ratchet wheels 86, 87 secure'dside by side on a shaft 88 that is j ournalled in the bracket 47 hereinbefore mentioned, and a bevel gear 89 also secured thereon drives a similar gear 90 on the screw 71, the latter of the two gears being subject to a brake having, as shown in Fig. III, the form of a friction plate 91 with screw means 91 whereoy its pressure may be varied, as

required. A yoke 92, mounted for independ- VI, to. fit the notches. of theratc ets 86, 87 I with which they are respectively "associated.

Theoutwardrod prolongations 93",94" of the pawl elements 93, 94 are guided for longitudinal sliding in a head 92 formed on the. horizontal cross bar of the yoke 92, surrounding springs 95, housed within coaxial cavities in the head, functioning to urge the pawl elements 93, 94 yieldingly toward the ratchets 86, 87. The yoke 92 is oscillated through a link connection with "a bell crank ann 9'6 which is free on the shaft61 (Fig. II) and carries at the end of its shorter extremity, a roller 97 adapted to be engaged by the same cam 64 that'a ctuates the roller arm 62 of the pending mechanism for the measuring chain '41. To the end of rendering the action of the ratchets 86, 87 7. selective, independentlyactuatable pawl guards are provided, these knitting of different portions of a garment Springs 101, 102 in tension between a fixed anchorage 103 on the bracket 39, and the opposite extremities of the pawl guard levers 98, 99, serve to normally maintain the levers, in said positions shown in Figs. 1 and VI, with both pawl elements 93, 94 raised to inf active position. In automatic operation of the machine, the pawling is governed by the cam lugs 42, 43 of the measuring chain 41, which, in passing beneath the pawl guard levers 98, 99, alternately engage tappet blocks 104, 105 adjustably set on the latter.

Provision is also made for manually con trolling the pawling so that the tension at which the elastic yarn Y is fed during may be varied in accordance with special specifications. The means to this end includes a pair of rotary cams 106, 107 igs. 1-11) that underlies the outer ends of the pawl guard levers 98, 99, said cams being secured to a common shaft 108 which is journalled in a terminal boss of the bracket 39 and equipped with an actuating handle 109. The rotary cams 106, 107 are so positioned angularly on the shaft 108 that swinging of the handle 109 to opposite sides of a vertical neutral position results in the actuation of one or the other of the guard levers, 98, 99, and, as a consequence, pawling of the respectively coordinated ratchet wheels 86, 87. Any suitable means may be employed to hold the actuating handle 109 in the vertical neutral position or the two horizontal positions, for example a sector 110 which is afiixed-to the bracket and has properly spaced indentations 110, 110, 110 for seating of a spring pressed ball (not shown) in said handle, as well as stops 110, 110 that limit the throw of the latter.

For the purpose of enabling formation of circumferential protuberances in the work produced by the machine, I'resort to the means shown in detail in Figs. VIII and IX. This means is operative upon the stitchdrawing cam 115 (Fig. V111) for the piylinder needles, said cam. being mounte with capacity for vertical adjustment in the cam ring 17. Projecting outwardly from the cam 115 through a slot 116, in the wall of the cam ring 17, is a stud 117 that is engaged by a screw 118 adjustably set in one end of an arcuate lever 119, see Figs. 1 and 11 in connection with F ig. V111, having its fulcrum on a screw 120, let into the cam ring 17. The opposite end of the arcuate lever 119extends laterally outward to overlie a pin 121, slidable vertically in an aperture adjacent the periphery of the bed plate 16. A compression spring 122, operative against a head on the lower end of the pin 121, maintains the latter in engagement with one extremity of a centrally-fulcrumed rocker arm 123 with bearing in a bracket 124, depending from the bed plate 16. A roller 125 mounted on a stud 126, in the opposite extremity of the rocker arm 123, is adapted to run in contact with the profile edge of a cam ring 127 that surrounds the annular bevel gear 26 at the bottom of the needle cylinder 15. Thus, as the needle cylinder 15 is rotated, the rocker arm 123 is moved up and down in accordance with the profile edge of the cam ring 127, the movement being transmitted to the stitch drawing cam 115 and the length of the stitches drawn by the needles correspondingly graduated in each successive course of the knitting. The stitch drawing cam 115 control means can be rendered inoperative by withdrawing the cotter pin 128 (Fig. IX) from the aperture 129 in the stud 126 of the rocker arm 123, shifting the roller 125 to the dotted line position, and inserting the pin 128 in a second hole 130 in said stud to hold the roller 125 retracted.

, Briefly described, the operation of the ma chine is asfollows: Let it be assumed that the machine is running, i. e, the needle cylinder 15 rotating in the direction of the arrow on Fig. 1, the knitting yarn Y being drawn in the usual way to satisfy the requirements imposed by the activity of the needles N, N, and the elastic yarn Y following suit, though subject to tension as a result of its restrained travel between the friction roller 67 and the drive disk 66. As the measuring chain 41 is progressed step by step under the action of the pawling mechanism for the sprocket wheel 40, and as the cam lugs 42 thereon are brought into play, the pawl guard lever 98 is successively actuated to release the corresponding pawl element 93 with the result that the screw 71 is rotated counter clockwise and the follower 70 moved radially inward of the drive-disk 66 by degrees to gradually increase the tensional restraint on the elastic yarn Y. When the other side or cam lugs 43 of the measuring chain 41 are active, the above operation is reversedthat is to say-- the screw 71 is progressively rotated clock wise through actuation of the pawl guard lever 99 and the intermediate coordinated parts, so that the follower70 is moved toward the periphery of the drive disk 66 to decrease the tensional restraint on the elastic yarn Y. By proper arrangement of the cam lugs 42, 43 on the measuring chain 41, it will be aparent that the product of the machine may lie automatically fashioned to any shape de sired or required.

When special conditions are prescribed, the fashioning may be controlled manually, by first turning the pawl 57 about its pivot and over upon its back, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. II, to prevent-operation of the measuring chain 41. Then, by selectively actuating the pawl guard levers 9'8, 99 with the aid of the handle 109, either clockwise or counterclockwise movement of the screw 71 may be predetermined to correspondingly increase or decrease the tension on the elastic yarn Y as required, the latter operation being greatly facilitated with the aid of the graduated scale 84 and the cooperating pointer 85, on the follower 70. When special worksuch as above mentioned is to be produced, it is desirable that the machine be automatically brought to a stop after the straight way por-' tions of the tube are knit and preparatory to manual manipulation of the tension control.

It is to this end that center lugs, such as shown at 44 in Fig. X are provided on the measuring chain 41, movement of the angle lever 45oocasioned by engagement of one of said lugs 44being imparted to the coordinated levers 45, 49 to cause retraction of the inner end of the latter from the vertical slide rod 52, which, upon release, is urged downward by the spring 54 to actuate the trip lever 35 associated with the belt shipper 31. The

" shipper 31 being thus freed, is immediately swung about its pivot 32 by the spring 36, to transfer the drive belt to the loose pulley 30. When the necessary preparations have been made for the purpose stated, the machine may be restarted by resetting the belt shipper 31 and its tripping mechanism to the positions shown in the drawings.

The mechanism of Fig. VIII for varying the size of the fabric loops may be brought into play by shifting the roller 126 into the province of the profile cam ring 127 surround ing the depending annular bevel gear 26 of the needle cylinder 15, whereupon, with each rotation of the machine, the fabric loops are graduated around the tube, the result of the procedure being the formation of a circumferential protuberance configured in accordance with the profile edge of the ring. Loop fashioning, such as just described, may of course be modified by concurrently varying the tension at which the elastic yarn Y is fed-under either manual or automatic control-with the mechanism provided herein for the purpose.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In knitting machines for producing tubular fabric with elastic yarn incorporated in its meshes and having a rotating needle cylinder, a shiftable stitch cam, and means to raise and lower the stitch cam incidental to rotation of the needle cylinder, thereby to vary the length of the fabric loops drawn by the needles in each course of the knitting concurrently with feeding of the elastic yarn under tension.

2. In knitting machines for producing tubular fabric with elastic yarn incorporated in its meshes and having a rotating needle cylin- 3'. In knitting machines for producing tubular fabric having elastic yarn 'incor-' porated in its meshes and having a rotating needle cylinder, a shiftable stitch cam, a profile cam ring rotating with the needle cylinder, an interposed element for imparting up and down movement to the stitch cam during each rotation of the machine in accordance with the profile configuration of said cam ring thereby to vary the length of the fabric loops in the corresponding course of the knitting concurrently with feeding of the elastic yarn under tension, and means whereby the element aforesaid may be rendered inactive.

4. In knitting machines for producing fabric with elastic yarn incorporated in its meshes, means for feeding the elastic yarn comprising a pair of contacting rotary members rotating at right angles to each other and between-which the yarn is passed, and means whereby said members may be relatively shifted to vary the degree of restraint on the elastic yarn.

5. In machines for producing knitted fabric with elastic yarn incorporated in its meshes, feeding means for the elastic yarn inwith feeding the elastic yarn under tenslon.

eluding a drive disk and a contacting driven I roller between which the yarn is passed, said roller being radially shiftable with respect to the disk to vary the rate of feeding and provided with a circumferential groove to prevent relative lateral displacement of the yarn during such shifting.

6. In machines for producing knitted fabric with elastic inlay yarn incorporated in its meshes, means for feeding the elastic arn comprising a drive disk, a feed roller a apted to run in pressure contact with the drive disk and beneath which the yarn is passed, a support in which the roller is journaled with capacity for being retracted to enable threading, and means to shift the roller support radially of the drive disk for the purpose of varying the rate of feeding of the yarn.

7 In machines for producing knitted fabric with elastic yarn incorporated .in its meshes, the combination of a rotating needle cylinder, and means for feedin the elastic yarn comprising a revolving drive disk stationarily mounted eccentrically of the needle cylinder, and a feed roller shiftable radially tact therewith to vary the rate at which the elastic yarn is fed.

8. In machines'for producing knitted fabrics with elastic yarn incorporated in its meshes, the combination of a rotating needle cylinder, and means for feeding the elastic yarn comprising a revolving drive disk stationarily mounted eccentrically of the needle cylinder, a feed roller running in contact with said disk, and a screw for shifting the roller radially of the disk tovary the rate at which the yarn is fed.

9. In'machines for producing knitted fabric with elastic yarn incorporated in its meshes, the combination of means for feeding the elastic yarn comprising a revolving drive disk, a feed roller running in contact with the disk, a screw for shifting the roller radially of said disk to vary the rate at which the yarn is fed, and control mechanism for turning the screw in opposite directions for the purpose specified, including right and left hand ratchet wheels, and means for independently governing actuation of said ratchet wheels.

10. In machines for producing knitted fabric with elastic yarn incorporated in its meshes, the combination of feeding means for the elastic yarn comprising a revolving drive disk, a feed roller running in contact with the disk, a screw for shifting the roller radially of the disk to vary the rate at which the yarn is fed, and control mechanism for turning the screw in opposite directions for the purpose specified, including right and left hand ratchet wheels, guards associated with the pawls of the ratchets, and means whereby said guards may be selectively actuated to govern action of the ratchets.

11. in machines for producing knitted fabric with elastic yarn incorporated in its meshes, the combination of feeding means for the elastic yarn comprising a revolving drive disk, a feed roller running in contact with the disk, a screw for shifting the roller radially of the disk to vary the rate at which the yarn is fed, and control mechanism for turning the screw in opposite directions for the purpose specified, including r1gl1t and left hand ratchet wheels, pivoted guards associated with the pawls of said ratchets, and operative rotary cam means enabling selective actuation of the pawl guards to govern movement of the ratchets.

12. In machines for producing knitted fabric with elastic yarn incorporated in its meshes, the combination of feeding means comprising a revolving drive disk, a feed roller runnin in contact with the disk, a screw for shi ting the roller radially of the disk to vary the rate at which the elastic yarn is fed, and control mechanism for turning the screw in opposite dlrectlons for the purpose specified, including right and left hand ratchet wheels, pivoted guards associated with the pawls of the ratchets, and rotary cams enabling selective actuation of pawl guards, said cams bein mounted on a common shaft equipped wit an operating handle.

13. In machines for producing knitted fabric with elastic yarn incorporated in its meshes, the combination of means for feeding the elastic yarn comprising a drive disk, a feed roller running in contact with the disk, a screw for shifting the roller radially of the disk to vary the rate at which the yarn is fed; and control mechanism for turning the screw in opposite directions for the purpose specified, including right and left hand ratchet wheels, pivoted guards for the pawls of the ratchets, and a sprocket chain with high links for independently actuating the pawl guards to govern the ratchets.

14. In a knitting machine for producing fabric with incorporated elastic inlay yarn and having a rotating needle cylinder means including a pair of revolving elements on axes at right angles to one another for continuously feeding the elastic yarn to the needles under predetermined tension and with avoidance of twisting, said means being supported independent of the needle cylinder. 15. In a knitting machine for producing fabric with incorporated elastic inlay yarn and having a rotating needle cylinder, means including a pair of revolving elements on axes at right angles to one another for continuously feeding the elastic inlay yarn under predetermined tension and avoidance of twisting, said means being supported independent of the needle cylinder, and means for altering-the operative relation between the rotating elements aforesaid to graduate tension of the elastic yarn.

16. In a knitting machine for producing fabric with incorporated elastic inlay yarn and having a rotating needle cylinder, means including a pair of revolving elements on axes at right angles to one another for continuously feeding the elastic inlay yarn under predetermined tension and avoidance of twisting, said means being supported independent of the needle cylinder, and automatic mechanism controlling the means aforesaid to vary the tension at which the elastic yarn is fed.

17 In a knitting machine for producing fabric with incorporated elastic inlay yarn and having a rotating needle cylinder, means including a pair of revolving elements on axes at right angles to one another for continuously feeding the elastic inlay yarn under predetermined tension and avoidance of twisting, said means being supported independent of the needle cylinder, and means to efiect graduated variation in the loops drawn by the needles incidental to feeding of the elastic yarn.

18. In a knitting machine for producing fabric with incorporated elastic inlay yarn and having a rotating needle cylinder, means including a air of revolving elements on axes at right ang es to one another for continuous. 1y feeding the elastic inlay arn under predetermined tension and avoi ance of twlsting, 5 said means being sup orted inde endent of the needle cylinder, and means to e ect aduated variation in the loops drawn y the needles in segmental portions of the fabric incidental to feeding of the elastic yarn.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto l9 signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 5th day of February, 1926.

GEORGE w. LINDLEY. 

